Arend W van Deutekom1, Mai Jm Chinapaw2, Maaike Gj Gademan3, Jos Wr Twisk4, Reinoud Jbj Gemke5, Tanja Gm Vrijkotte3. 1. Department of Pediatrics, EMGO Institute for Health & Care Research, Institute for Cardiovascular Research VU, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, a.vandeutekom@vumc.nl. 2. Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO institute for Health & Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health & Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Pediatrics, EMGO Institute for Health & Care Research, Institute for Cardiovascular Research VU, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of birth weight and infant growth with childhood autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and to assess whether ANS activity mediates the associations of birth weight and infant growth with energy-balance-related behaviours, including energy intake, satiety response, physical activity and screen time. METHODS: In 2089 children, we prospectively collected birth weight, infant growth defined as conditional weight and height gain between birth and 12 months and-at 5 years-indices of cardiac ANS activity and parent-reported energy-balance-related behaviours. A mediation analysis was conducted, based on MacKinnon's multivariate extension of the product-of-coefficients strategy. RESULTS: Birth weight and infant height gain were inversely associated with sympathetic, but not parasympathetic, activity at age 5. Infant weight gain was not associated with childhood ANS activity. Infant weight gain was predictive of increased childhood screen time and infant height gain of diminished childhood energy intake, but sympathetic activity did not mediate these associations. CONCLUSIONS: Low-birth-weight children have higher sympathetic activity, which is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Height gain in infancy seems to be beneficial for childhood sympathetic activity. However, sympathetic activity was no mediator of the associations of infant growth with childhood energy-balance-related behaviours. As individual differences in ANS activity predict increased risk of cardiovascular disease, these differences may offer insight into the early-life origins of chronic diseases and provide further basis for public health strategies to optimize birth weight and infant growth.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of birth weight and infant growth with childhood autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and to assess whether ANS activity mediates the associations of birth weight and infant growth with energy-balance-related behaviours, including energy intake, satiety response, physical activity and screen time. METHODS: In 2089 children, we prospectively collected birth weight, infant growth defined as conditional weight and height gain between birth and 12 months and-at 5 years-indices of cardiac ANS activity and parent-reported energy-balance-related behaviours. A mediation analysis was conducted, based on MacKinnon's multivariate extension of the product-of-coefficients strategy. RESULTS: Birth weight and infant height gain were inversely associated with sympathetic, but not parasympathetic, activity at age 5. Infantweight gain was not associated with childhood ANS activity. Infantweight gain was predictive of increased childhood screen time and infant height gain of diminished childhood energy intake, but sympathetic activity did not mediate these associations. CONCLUSIONS: Low-birth-weight children have higher sympathetic activity, which is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Height gain in infancy seems to be beneficial for childhood sympathetic activity. However, sympathetic activity was no mediator of the associations of infant growth with childhood energy-balance-related behaviours. As individual differences in ANS activity predict increased risk of cardiovascular disease, these differences may offer insight into the early-life origins of chronic diseases and provide further basis for public health strategies to optimize birth weight and infant growth.
Authors: Richelle Vlenterie; Judith B Prins; Nel Roeleveld; Marleen M H J van Gelder Journal: Arch Gynecol Obstet Date: 2022-03-23 Impact factor: 2.344
Authors: Arend W van Deutekom; Mai J M Chinapaw; Elise P Jansma; Tanja G M Vrijkotte; Reinoud J B J Gemke Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-01-12 Impact factor: 3.240